WOMEN’S REFUGE HAS slammed the New Zealand Rugby Union and the Hurricanes for ‘a cop-out’ over not immediately disciplining All Black winger Julian Savea after he was charged with the domestic assault of his partner.
The rugby player, who scored a hat-trick of tries on his Test match debut against Ireland last June, appeared in a Wellington court earlier today [NZ time] to answer to the charges of an assault that allegedly took place last Sunday.
Savea read out a statement to the assembled media after his court appearance and stopped several times to wipe away tears.
He said, “To my partner and family, I want to say I’m sorry. To hurt someone that you love and care so much for … I know it’s hurting them and it’s definitely hurting me, so I apologise to them.” Savea added:
I’m not making excuses for myself. I know what I did was wrong, and I’m taking steps to make sure this will never happen again.”
Hurricanes CEO James Te Puni commented, “Obviously, we are disappointed to have this situation emerge, but we must now let the judicial process run its course. The key thing for us is to support the families as they work through what is a very difficult time.”
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said, “Without judging the rights or wrongs of this case, we are concerned that this is another incident involving a young player. We need to find out whether we are doing enough to help these young men cope with the pressures of the professional game.”
The responses of the union and the Super Rugby franchise, married to the fact that Savea started on the wing for the Hurricanes on Friday [five days after the alleged incident], drew a stinging response from Women’s Refuge.
Heather Henare, chief executive of the support group, told TV3 NZ, “I think it’s a cop-out and that they needed to take a more responsible position and send a really clear message that this behaviour is not going to be tolerated.”
Savea [22] has scored 12 tries in nine Test match outings for the All Blacks. He recently featured in New Zealand’s “It’s Not OK” campaign against family violence.
Monaghan putting it up to Dublin in the second half certainly not a walk over. 53 minutes in and all square
League final for the rebels but will have to step it up against the Dubs as I expect them to brush Monaghan aside. Think it’s time the Northern to drop the blanket defence…. shocking to watch.
It’s been adopted by all teams below Division 1, if they try to match the big guns man to man they’ll get blown out if the water! It’s no longer just a Northern style
Maybe open your eyes Owl when watching a match and form your own unique opinions instead of following the media’s approach on criticising the northern teams. Donegal for one don’t have a blanket defence for the sake of negativity. The have a system that works and forwards that can cause real damage like against Dublin last year. They scored 19 points today. What a terribly negative team….
Maybe you should watch that game again. … blanket defence on show all day. Cork put pressure on them to come out and play and NOT because it was Donegals game plan. My opinions are formed by actually watching the game and not just reading the result…
You sir, can suck my white hammer.
Good man Jimmy. … constructive yet to the point !
Well I was at the game today so i saw quite clearly how Donegal played. You clearly have little understanding of how their tactics work. You may as well stick to the blanket criticism of every ulster team playing purely negative football.
How their tactics work ????
Yes I can see it works a treat. Silly little comment.